The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has called for greater opportunities for women in sports administration, leadership and journalism, urging stakeholders to strengthen female representation across Nigeria’s sports sector.
Dikko made the call in Abuja at a two-day training seminar for sports journalists organised by the Women’s Commission of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), where he stressed the need to translate women’s contributions to sports into greater access to leadership positions and decision-making.
“Women have continued to deliver for Nigerian sports, and we must also deliver for them by creating more opportunities and providing the support they need,” he said.
The NSC chairman disclosed that the commission had introduced a policy requiring sports federations to have a woman as a fifth vice-president as part of efforts to improve women’s representation in sports administration.
He added that additional female representatives had been included on the boards of sports federations to expand women’s participation in decision-making.
Dikko said Nigerian women had continued to demonstrate their capabilities across different sporting disciplines and administrative positions, noting that their achievements deserved greater recognition and institutional support.
He also revealed that the commission was considering increasing bonuses payable to the Super Falcons to bring them closer to the levels received by their male counterparts, the Super Eagles.
According to him, women are already playing significant roles in the commission’s operations, with female administrators heading key departments responsible for elite sports, grassroots sports development and sports festivals.
The chairman urged sports journalists to move beyond conventional coverage and give greater attention to female athletes’ skills, performances and achievements rather than focusing excessively on their physical appearance.
“Sports journalists have an important role to play in promoting women, highlighting their achievements and ensuring that their contributions receive the attention they deserve,” he said.
He added that Nigerian representation in international sports governance should be expanded, stressing the importance of creating opportunities for the country’s sports professionals to contribute at global levels.
“We need Nigerians represented at every level of international sports governance. This is not about an individual; it is about creating opportunities for Nigerians,” Dikko said.
The NOC President, Habu Gumel, said the seminar reflected the committee’s commitment to promoting gender equality and strengthening women’s participation in the Olympic movement.
Gumel disclosed that the NOC Women’s Commission, inaugurated in 2023, had organised leadership programmes for female coaches, administrators, managers and technical officials across the six geopolitical zones.
He said the programmes had provided mentorship, strengthened professional capacity and encouraged women to pursue leadership positions within the sports sector.
The Chairperson of the NOC Women’s Commission, Professor Florence Adeyanju, called on journalists to challenge stereotypes that limit women’s visibility and recognition in sports.
Adeyanju expressed concern that media reports sometimes placed greater emphasis on female athletes’ physical appearance than on their performances, skills and accomplishments.
She urged sports journalists to adopt fair, inclusive and balanced reporting that recognises women’s contributions and promotes equal opportunities for girls and women.
According to her, participation in sports helps girls develop confidence, resilience and essential life skills while opening up opportunities for personal and professional advancement.
The President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Isaiah Benjamin, commended the NOC for organising the training and called on sports federations to provide more opportunities for journalists to improve their professional skills.
Benjamin said about 40 journalists participated in the seminar, expressing hope that future editions would attract more sports writers from across the country.
Also speaking, the NSC Director-General, Bukola Olopade, called for responsible and balanced sports reporting, urging journalists to verify information and seek responses from relevant parties before publishing their reports.
Olopade said credible journalism was essential to building public confidence, strengthening sports administration and attracting investment into the sector.
He also disclosed that efforts were being made to improve Nigerian journalists’ representation at international sporting events, particularly by creating more opportunities for female journalists.
According to him, he had directed that three of the four available journalist accreditation slots under discussion should be allocated to women.
The stakeholders called for sustained collaboration among sports administrators, federations, journalists and other industry players to ensure that women receive greater visibility, professional support and opportunities to contribute to the development of Nigerian sports.
They emphasised that improved representation in leadership, equitable media coverage and access to professional development were necessary to strengthen women’s participation across the sporting sector.
Source: Ernest Nzor, The Guardian Nigeria, October 26, 2026.
Original report: https://guardian.ng/sport/women-deserve-more-opportunities-in-nigerian-sports-dikko/
